Statement of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on possible entry into Ukraine by organized gunmen groups

15 March 2014

In recent days, some web-based media referring to some public figures disseminate alerts on unauthorized entry into Ukraine by organized gunmen groups from Russia to destabilize the situation in Ukraine.

This information not only helps to injection of panic among citizens, but actually works in favor of separatists, as it discredits the State Border Guard Service and other law enforcement agencies which are now using every effort to ensure the Ukrainians’ security from illegal aggressive actions on the part of the other states.

Today, in fact, one of the web-sites reported that, allegedly, on March 13 the aggressive group of Russian citizens came to Donetsk via checkpoint in this region for participation in the pro-Russian rally. It is known that the rally to support Ukrainian unity in Donetsk, Ukraine, on March 13 has finished with mass brawl prompted by pro-Russian thugs. In addition, even the bus model and the company organizing the trip were specified by abovementioned web-site.

In this regard, the State Border Guard Service officially informs that the bus "DAF" moving on “Athens-Donetsk-Essentuki” route entered Ukraine on March 12, at about 10 p.m., via BCP “Kuchurgan”. According to the existing registration data, Ukrainian border was crossed by the following bus passengers: 6 citizens of Ukraine and 5 citizens of Greece. There were no shady characters or people who were not able to confirm the goal of entering Ukraine.

We consider the fact of spreading information by some public figures, including former members of Parliament, to be inappropriate. Having no information about the real situation on the state border and without checking the data provided by come-and-go people they are disseminating false information and thereby discredit the activities of law enforcement officers and state border defenders.

Please be aware that the statement of one of the Luhansk Regional State Administration officials concerning the organized gunmen group’s gatherings on the territory of orphanages and health institutions in the region with their further participating in destabilizing activities is incorrect. State Border Service of Ukraine jointly with Ministry of Internal Affairs and Security Service representatives verified 56 of such institutions within the region and in every case neither suspects nor marks of their presence were found.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine earnestly asks journalists to use only verified information and do not misinform people.

Please be reminded that today the State Border Guard Service jointly with Armed Forces, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Security Service conducts unprecedented measures to protect the border and maintain the regime in the border regions. Only in the last day, nearly 600 Russian citizens who were unable to confirm the purpose of their trip and probably followed to Ukraine to destabilize the situation were refused for entry into Ukraine.